• Premiere: Robocobra Quartet – Wicker Bar

    April 14, 2015 - By 

    Set for release on April 21, Bomber by Belfast’s Robocobra Quartet captures a band whose brilliantly burgeoning sound gets more engrossing and self-assured with each release. Following on the heels of agog lead single ”80-88′, the brief but burrowing ‘Wicker Bar’ is a more inward-looking, abstracted affair, the band’s drummer/vocalist Chris Ryan meditating on backwashed thoughts and distant scenes, relaying beat-inflected stylings over dancing sax and a floating, spectral vocal ensemble courtesy of Patrick Gardiner. Sub-titled “four songs about three people, two novels, a failed assassination attempt and a volunteer-run community arts space” the EP was recorded by Ryan at Belfast’s Start Together…

  • Watch: Villagers – Everything I Am Yours

    April 13, 2015 - By 

    Showing one man’s sad spiral of rejection on city streets, Villagers’ video for ‘Everything I Am Yours’ is a harrowing yet remarkably touching supplement to one of the highlights from their new album, Darling Arithmetic. Directed by Jeremy Thraves – responsible for videos for the likes of Radiohead’s Just, Blur’s Charmless Man and Sam Smith’s Stay With Me – the video cuts between the aforementioned struggle – one man’s desire for love and to be loved – and footage of Conor O’Brien performing the song on guitar, drums and piano. Make sure to check out our main interview feature with O’Brien in the current issue of…

  • Q+A: Princess

    April 9, 2015 - By 

    One of our featured 15 for ’15 acts, Dublin noise-pop duo Princess are truly riding the crest of a wave at the minute. Ahead of shows at Belfast’s Woodworkers on Saturday, April 11 (free), Galway’s Roisin Dubh on April 16 and Limerick’s Kasbah Social Club the following night, we chat to Liam Mesbur from the band about their increasingly enthralling sound and direction. Hi guys. I remember featuring ‘Tortured Wings’ in a BBC Ulster radio segment two years ago. Your sounds has really developed since then. What do you owe that to? When we did that tune it was myself writing everything and…

  • Indiependence Announce New Acts

    April 9, 2015 - By 

    Several new acts have been added to the bill for this year’s Indiependence festival, which is set to return to Deer Farm in Mitchelstown, Cork, across the weekend of July 31 to August 2. With the likes of the Mark Lanegan Band, Ash and Jape already confirmed, Basement Jaxx, Kodaline, Hamsandwich, Foy Vance, The Young Folk and Elastic Sleep (pictured) are amongst the latest additions. With more acts set to be announced, check out the current line-up below and go here to buy tickets for the festival.

  • Front of House: Bernard Flanagan

    April 9, 2015 - By 

    In the latest installment of Front of House, we talk to Belfast-based freelance sound engineer Bernard Flanagan about starting out, his typical work day and working with the likes of Biffy Clyro and Therapy? Photos by Liam Kielt. Hi there. Can you tell us about yourself? My name is Bernard Flanagan and I’m originally from Maghera. I have lived in Belfast on and off for 10yrs. I have also lived in London and Glasgow. How did you become a sound engineer and how long have you been involved in it? I have been in the music industry since I was 14-15.…

  • Hangar Set to Launch New Dublin Venue

    April 8, 2015 - By 

    Dublin’s Hangar team have announced the official launch party of their new venue, located on Andrews Lane, in the heart of Dublin City. Having been “hard at work creating a new space, a new cultural hub ready to cater to all types of music and events”, the venue – boasting a brand new, state of the art sound system – will kickstart on Aprll 17 with a MMOTHS (pictured) DJ/AV set (feat. Slipdraft), The Minutes and New Secret Weapon, with The Building Society DJ’s taking over upstairs. Tickets are extremely limited (300 advanced tickets) and only one ticket per person. RSVP here. First come, first served basis.

  • Watch: The Wood Burning Savages – Lather, Rinse, Repeat

    April 7, 2015 - By 

    Derry alt-rock quartet The Wood Burning Savages aren’t exactly ones to slack with their music videos. Take the engaging, narrative-driven visual accompaniments to previous singles ‘Boom’ and ‘America’ – two strong, wonderfully considered videos that really manage to drive Paul Connolly’s words home. Directed by Cillian Farrell and Sonni Ross , the band have just went one better with the video for new single ‘Lather, Rinse, Repeat’, an instantly captivating accompaniment to a track bursting with upbeat gusto and eager flair. Check that out below.

  • Watch: Subplots – Future Tense (Live; Higher Ground #01)

    April 7, 2015 - By 

    Back in November, Dublin duo Phil Boughton and Daryl Chaney AKA Subplots played the first ever Higher Ground in the city’s spectacular Pepper Canister Church, a series of shows hosted by Hidden Agenda. According to Hidden Agenda, “These shows focus on showcasing the best international and local talent performing in alternative and spectacular venues across the country. Each act is carefully chosen on their musical and artistic merit with a focus on showing only the most exciting, innovative and creative acts from across the board.” Setting themselves apart from the get go, each of the shows are also filmed on the night and released…